Automatic activating device for aerosol containers



.June 18, 1957 J. DICKERMAN AUTOMATIC ACTIVATING DEVICE FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 4', 1956 INVENTOR.

AUTOMATIC ACTIV ATIN G DEVICE FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS Joseph Dickerman, Berwyn, Pa. Application September 4, 1956, Serial No. 607,836

7 Claims. (Cl. 4--222) This invention relates generally to valve control actuating mechanisms for aerosol containers and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to an auto matic valve control for an aerosal spray container.

So called atomizers or sprayers used in connection with, for example toilet bowls for the purpose of spraying a quantity of deodorant r disinfectant into the air at the time the toilet is flushed have been proposed in the past. These devices have been cumbersome and difiicult to mount, for example, within the flush tank or otherwise attached to the plumbing of the toilet bowl.

Some of these types of equipment have been mounted outside of the flush tank. However, this type of mounting has been objectionable, both because it often is unsightly in appearance and also because the actuator is usually one which must be manipulated by the person using the toilet.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide novel means for automatically releasably controlling a deodorant aerosol spray.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide an automatic deodorizing device which is simple to attach to and remove from the bowl of a toilet.

It is another important object of the invention to provide an automatic control device for aerosol spray containers which can be mounted as a unitary structure on the ordinary type of toilet bowl and which, when so mounted, upon release of the control valve, is adapted to spray a quantity of deodorant into the air or area of the room closely adjacent to the toilet.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a demountable supporting structure for aerosol containers which requires no attachment to the toilet other than the simple unitary mounting-assembly as shown herein.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable valve control which may be regulated to automatically vary the length of time the spray is in use.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a device which is adapted to removably mount an aerosol container to a toilet bowl without the necessity of bolts, screws, or other like fastening devices.

These and other objects will appear from the following description, drawing and claims. Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only;

Figure 1 is a partial front elevational view of a toilet and seat showing a part of the device of the invention broken away to expose the interior elements thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the device embodying the invention mounted on the toilet bowl;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but illustrating the cocking action of the parts of the device as the toilet seat is lowered; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3, illustrating the movement of parts of the present invention during the time the control is energized and the spray is released.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and to Figure 1 thereof, reference numeral 10 designates the rim of a toilet bowl and 12 is one of a usual pair of hinges for supporting the toilet bowl lid 14 thereon. A seat 16, positioned directly beneath the lid 14, is provided with resilient bumpers 18, only one of which is shown in the drawings which prevent damage to the toilet bowl if the seat should be carelessly lowered. The bumpers 18, while mounting the seat out of line contact with the rim of the bowl also serve to permit air to circulate so as to refersh the area around the toilet bowl.

The device of the invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 and is illustrated as being mounted to the rim of the toilet bowl by means of a flanged portion or hanger 22. This hanger 22 is adapted to be flexed around the rim of the toilet supporting structure and .to position the device 20 vertically by means of the depending side wall 24 thereof, which is adapted to rest substantially flatly against the vertical edge of the toilet bowl rim 10 as shown. The flange portion may be integral with the remainder of the supporting structure as desired.

The embodiment of the valve control device of this invention as set forth herein consists generally of a supporting structure 26 and may comprise the unitary enclosure for the containing of the whole or the assembly now to be described, which is or may be integral with the flange 22 as before mentioned. An outer tubular member 28 is disposed in the structure 26 and an inner tubular member 30 is telescopically slidably recessed within the member 28. The inner member is urged upwardly as shown in the drawing away from the outer member by means of a relatively stiff coil spring 31. The upper exposed end .of the inner tubular member 30 is shaped to form a plunger 32 which is adapted to engage or to contact a portion of the outer overlapping rim or edge of the seat 16.

In order to releasably control an aerosol unit'used herewith a bent lever arm 34 ispivotally mounted by means of the stud 35 to the outer tubular member 28. The longer end 36 of the lever arm 34 projects through a slot or aperture 38 in the outer tubular member 28 to contact the releasable valve or cap 40 of an aerosol spray container 42 which is disposed within the supporting structure 26 as shown. As can be seen from Figures 2, 3 and 4, a portion of the inner tubular member 28 has been removed to provide clearance for the pivot stud 35 as the inner tube is raised or lowered. The lever arm at its valve contacting end is perforated as indicated by the reference numeral 41, Figure 3, to provide a vent opening through which the spray may be released.

Secured to the bottom of the plunger 32 is a magnetic member 44 for a purpose which will be explained pres-- ently. A smaller magnet 46 is secured to one end of a. coil spring 48. The opposite end of the spring 48 is dis-- posed within a cup like support 50 attached to the shorter end 49 of the bent lever arm 34.

In operation of the invention, assuming the parts are: in the position in which they are shown in Figure 2: of the drawing, after the seat, 16, has been lowered. from the position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 3, the coil spring 31 has now been compressed or cocked and the two magnets 4446 are in abutting relation as shown. As the seat is slowly raised, due to the removal of weight of the users body, the tension of the coil spring 31 is released so that the lever arm 34 will be pivotally rocked from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 4 whereupon the longer end 36 of the lever 34 will depress the aerosol valve cap 40 to release the spray from the container 42.

In order to insure a relatively short, but timed spray of even duration and to prevent the cap valve 40 from shutting oil? too soon, the beforementione-d coil spring 48 has been secured to the magnet 42. It can be seen that as the larger spring 31 is uncoiled, due :to the upward travel of the seat 16, the spring 48 attached to the lower magnet 46 will permit the two magnets 44 and 46 to be retained in abutting relation until the spring 31 has reached the limit of its. extension or uncoiling. The

magnet 46 will then be permitted to uncoil to theposition shown in dotted outline in Figure 4. This action will permit the valve 40, by means of the linkage 34 to be held depressed for a time period equal to that required forthe. seat 16 to be raised to the spring 31 limit.

Adjustment of the duration of the spray may be easily accomplished by simply enlarging the magnets 44-46 or altering the tension of the spring 48.

The supporting structure may be fabricated of material of such rigidity as mayrbest suit particular application. However, it is contemplated that the supporting device may be mounted in any suitable position to permit the spray to be best utilized. Thus, the flange 22 could be bent or angled so that the aerosol nozzle or valve is aimed at the floor of the room or to the left or right as desired.

The lever arm 34 may be modified to permit the employment of aerosol containers Whose nozzles operate horizontally or vertically or whose operation depends upon sidewise thrust rather than upward and downward plunger type movement.

There has thus been described a novel automatically releasable valve control arrangement for aerosol type spray containers. number of applications such, for example, as ofiices or ofiice buildings or in the powder rooms of homes.

What is claimed is:

1. An atomizer control device for use with an aerosol deodorizer unit adapted to be mounted :to a toilet bowl comprising, a housing, means for mounting said unit in said housing, said unit having a discharge valve projecting therefrom, a first member disposed in said housing, a second member telescopically slidably mounted in said, first member, means operatively coacting with said second, member and releasably contacting said discharge valve, said. last mentioned means being capableupon partial, separation of said second member from said first member tocause said valveto discharge a portionof the contents of said unit.

2. An atomizer control device for use with, an aerosol spray unit adapted to be mounted on atoilet bowl comprising, a housing, means for mounting said aerosol unit in said housing, said unit being provided with a discharge valve, a first member mounted in said. housing, a second member telescopically slidably mounted insaid first mem-,

-ber,'and meansin said second member operably engaging said valve, said. last mentioned means being operable upon separating motion of said second member from first member toautomatically release a portion of the contents of said aerosol unit.

This invention may find use in any 3; An atomizer control device for use with an aerosol spray unit comprising, a housing, means for mounting said housing to a toilet bowl, an aerosol spray unit mounted in said housing, said unit having a discharge valve projecting therefrom, a first cylindrical member mounted in said housing, a second cylindrical member telescopically slidably mounted within said first member, a first magnetic element secured ltO said second member, means biasing said first and second members in opposite directions, a lever pivotally mounted in said second member, a second magnetic element disposed 'on one end of said lever, the opposite end of said lever releasably engaging said discharge valve, and means urging said magnets into abutting relation whereupon release of said last mentioned means said lever is caused to actuatesaid valve.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 whereon said means biasing said members in opposite directions comprises a coiled spring.

5, An atomizer control device for use with an aerosol spray unit adapted to be mounted on a toilet bowl comprising, a housing, means integral with said housing for.

mounting said housingto said bowl, said housing being 6. A control mechanism for an aerosol spray unit com:

prising, a housing, means in said housing for detachably mounting an aerosol container therein, saidv container being provided with adischarge valve for venting the contentsthereof, a first member mounted in said housing, a second member telescopically slidably received in said first member, biasingmeans urging said first and second members in opposite directions, a lever pivotally mounted on said second member, one end of said lever releasably engaging said valve, a, first magnet securedto said second member, means movably mounting a second magnet on the opposite end of said lever, and means movable in a direction to cause said second member to be received within said first member whereupon said magnets.

are brought into abutting relation, the movement of said last mentioned means in the opposite direction underlthe urging of said biasing means being suificient to cause said lever to actuate said discharge valve.

7. This invention asset forth in claim 5 wherein said.

means rnovably mounting a second magnet on said lever comprises a coiled spring.

No references cited. 

